Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning the Annual Review of Country Eligibility for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act for Calendar Year 2026

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Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is announcing the initiation of the annual review of the eligibility of sub-Saharan African countries to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The AGOA Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (AGOA TPSC Subcommittee) is requesting written comments for this review and will conduct a public hearing on this matter. In developing its recommendations on AGOA country eligibility for calendar year 2026, the AGOA TPSC Subcommittee will consider written comments, written testimony, and oral testimony.

June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of pre-hearing written comments, requests to testify, and written testimony, regarding the eligibility of countries to be designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.

July 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EDT: The AGOA TPSC Subcommittee will convene a public hearing to receive oral testimony related to sub-Saharan African countries' eligibility for AGOA benefits, at USTR's building located at 1724 F Street NW, Washington DC. Please be sure to bring required identification if you wish to attend or participate in the hearing.

July 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of post-hearing written comments, briefs, supplementary materials, and written statements related to the public hearing.

The AGOA TPSC Subcommittee strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov ( Regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for submitting written comments and testimony and requests to testify in sections III and IV below, using Docket Number USTR-2025-0012. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Jeremy Streatfeild, Director of African Affairs, Office of African Affairs, in advance of the relevant deadline at [email protected] or 202.395.8642.

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